Category: kvia-local-news

Heriberto Perez Lara

UPDATE (July 9, 2026): Thursday, U.S. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar sent the Federal Bureau of Prisons a letter sharing her concerns about the La Tuna prison.

She included a list of 18 questions expressing her concern for staff, inmates and public safety. She also said her office wasn’t told about the decision to close the prison.

“The decision affects real people. It affects the federal employees whose livelihoods are now at risk, the families who rely on those jobs and the surrounding communities that would economically suffer as a result of such massive layoffs,” Rep. Escobar said.

You can read her full letter below.

escobar_la_tuna_closure_oversight_letterDownload

ANTHONY, Texas (KVIA) — Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) said it will close several facilities, including the La Tuna Prison in Anthony, Texas. The BOP said the closures will address “decades of deferred maintenance and extreme staffing challenges.”

The BOP said La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution, Federal Satellite Low and Satellite Camp will see a reduction-in-force.

It also said “minimal staff will be affected” at La Tuna FSL since it’s already non-operational.

The BOP said it’s confronting a deferred maintenance backlog exceeding $4 billion. In a news release, it said the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will provide funding, but it won’t be enough to fully resolve the operational and infrastructure challenges.

“We are a Bureau that acts,” said BOP Director William K. Marshall III. “These actions are necessary to address longstanding infrastructure and staffing challenges while ensuring the Bureau remains focused on its core mission of operating safe, secure, and efficient correctional facilities. We will support our workforce throughout this transition and responsibly position the agency for the future.”

The BOP also said it is committed to addressing these challenges through decisive and strategic action to ensure the continued safe and secure operation of its facilities and to support the agency’s mission.

20260701_pr_facility_closuresDownload

ABC-7 reached out to the BOP for comment today, a spokesperson said beyond the attached press release, they had no additional information to provide at this time.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A mechanical runaway truck ramp opened on a median on Loop 375 on Transmountain Road, the Texas Department of Transportation said Wednesday. While it’s the fourth runaway ramp on the road, this is the first mechanical ramp.

TxDOT said the mechanical ramp provides a safety option for drivers who lose their brakes closer to the I-10 on the left lane of Loop 375 West. It’s designed to safely stop a 90,000-pound truck traveling 90 miles an hour, officials said.

The ramp slows trucks down using eight energy-absorbing net stations bolted into concrete walls, according to TxDOT.

“Unlike other runaway truck ramps on Transmountain, this truck arresting system was constructed in the median due to the narrow footprint available at that location,” said TxDOT El Paso District Engineer Tomas Trevino. 

TxDOT said drivers who use the ramp should stay centered on it. The ramp can reset in just four hours after typical impact.

Transmountain has three other ramps — one westbound and two eastbound.

Project designers said mechanical ramp is usually constructed on mountainsides in France and Canada.

Crews still need to install permanent signs to let drivers know they should switch to lower gear on the steep road.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — In 1972, rock band WAR sang, “We met down on the border of the Rio Grande.” In September, the group will perform two shows at Las Cruces’ Rio Grande Theatre September, according to a news release.

WAR’s top songs include “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends.”

On Sept. 26 and 27, doors open at 6 p.m. and shows start at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $85-95 for general admission, according to Hardin’s Music Saloon. Reserved front-row seating costs $150.

You can find ticket information here.

Click here to follow the original article.

Nina Gallegos

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KVIA) — The family of a Andrew Brown, who died in an alleged hit-and-run, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the former treasurer of the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Antonio Brown described his brother, Andrew Brown, as a protective figure who was consistently present for his family. He recalled Andrew’s support during a difficult time.

“He literally helped me with my mom,” Antonio Brown said. “When my mom got sick with cancer. He was there all the time.”

Antonio Brown said that his brother, like himself, had made past mistakes, but emphasized their shared commitment to self-improvement.

“Like what you’ve been through in your past. Like he made mistakes, I made mistakes, but we’ve we’ve learned from them and literally did everything in our power to become better people,” he said.

Upon receiving the call about the incident, Antonio Brown immediately traveled to the scene. He recounted the shock of finding his brother had already passed.

“Immediately I got in my car and I went to go see if it was him. And of course it was. When I got there, he had already passed. It was just shock,” Antonio Brown said.

Andrew Brown’s mother was not ready to speak publicly about her loss. However, Antonio Brown expressed his determination to see accountability. “I want my mom to know that that lady is going to pay for what she did to him,” he said.

According to documents ABC-7 obtained, Kimberly Skaggs allegedly hit and killed Andrew with her SUV and left without helping. Andrew rode his bike when he was hit.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, and alleged Skaggs failed to drive with reasonable care, traveled at an excessive speed, failed to keep a proper lookout and left the scene without rendering aid.

Skaggs faces criminal charges of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with evidence.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Click here to follow the original article.

Paul Schulz

LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) — The family of Andrew Brown has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Kimberly Skaggs, the former treasurer for the Republican Party of New Mexico, alleging she struck Brown with her SUV while he was riding his bicycle, left him critically injured in the roadway and fled the scene without rendering aid.

The civil lawsuit was filed by Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C. on behalf of Brown’s family.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages and alleges Skaggs failed to drive with reasonable care, traveled at an excessive speed, failed to keep a proper lookout, fled the scene without rendering aid and attempted to conceal evidence after the collision.

Brown, 40, died after he was struck June 22 while riding his bicycle on North Fairacres Road in Las Cruces. According to the lawsuit, the impact shattered his bicycle into several pieces.

According to court documents cited in the lawsuit, a witness told investigators Skaggs exited her vehicle after the crash, observed Brown lying in the roadway, then returned to her SUV and drove away without attempting to help or call 911. Authorities later arrested Skaggs in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.

Investigators documented nearly 200 feet of skid marks at the scene and recovered broken pieces from a General Motors vehicle. Surveillance video from a nearby business allegedly showed a vehicle matching witness descriptions traveling at a high rate of speed before the collision.

The lawsuit states investigators later used GPS data to locate the suspected vehicle. During the execution of a search warrant, deputies reported finding damage consistent with the crash, including missing pieces from the front bumper that allegedly matched debris recovered at the scene, blood beneath the vehicle and markings consistent with contact with Brown’s bicycle.

“This lawsuit is about accountability for every decision that led to Andrew Brown’s death and every decision that followed,” James Tawney, partner at Tawney, Acosta & Chaparro P.C., said. “Our clients believe those decisions robbed a young man of his father and shattered a family. They deserve their day in court, and we intend to pursue justice on their behalf.”

Brown’s former partner, Santana Santiago, said the greatest loss belongs to the couple’s 14-year-old son.

“I lost one of my best friends, and my son was robbed of his father. Andrew loved our son with all his heart,” Santiago said.

Santiago said Brown remained committed to being a father despite living in a different home, regularly writing letters to his son, offering guidance and staying involved in his life.

She said Brown hoped to attend barber school and eventually open a community radio station where he could mentor at risk youth. She also described him as a kind person who loved writing poetry and singing R and B music.

“Knowing he was left to die alone after the crash is something that no family should ever have to live with and we intend to fully uncover why Skaggs left the scene,” Tawney said.

The lawsuit also includes a loss of consortium claim on behalf of Brown’s son, alleging he has been deprived of his father’s love, guidance, companionship and support.

ABC-7 previously reported Skaggs faces criminal charges of knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and tampering with evidence. A Doña Ana County judge ordered Skaggs held without bond pending trial after prosecutors argued her actions following the crash demonstrated she posed a danger to the community.

The criminal case remains pending, and a trial date has not been set.

Click here to follow the original article.

Joseph Montero

UPDATE (3:10 p.m.) — El Paso Police said 21-year-old Steven Zamora died in the crash near Airway Boulevard and Boeing Drive. He was a Fort Bliss resident, according to police.

According to a news release, at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said Zamora drove his motorcycle at a high speed and failed to navigate a curve. Police said he crashed into a wall and died at the scene.

Police said Zamora is the 25th traffic death this year, compared to 31 at this time last year.

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Special Traffic Investigators with the El Paso Police Department are responding to a motorcycle crash on Airway Boulevard and Boeing Drive near the El Paso International Airport.

Police say the call came in at 12:35 a.m. Wednesday.

ABC-7 has a crew heading to the scene to learn more.

This is a developing story and updates will come as more information is available.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — As more health information is stored online, an El Paso nonprofit received a $200,000 grant Tuesday to create a lesson plan to teach people how to manage their health information.

Texas Mutual Insurance Company and its health affiliate, Texicare, gave Borderplex Connect the grant.

The El Paso Community Foundation said internet access in El Paso and the Borderland area is uneven. Just in the county, 28% of households earning less than $20,000 don’t have an internet subscription due to cost or connection barriers.

As some of the healthcare people access is online, such as digital appointments and patient portals, EPCF said not having access can limit how people track their care and costs.

Additionally, not everyone understands how to use the internet or modern technology.

With the grant money, Texicare’s CEO, Meredith Duncan, said the nonprofit can teach people how to manage their health information responsibly.

“These programs help teach people how to use technology, how to access their health information and how to make sure they are doing it in a safe way,” said Duncan.

According to a news release, the program will teach people how to use patient portals, set up digital appointments (also known as telehealth) and avoid scams.

Additionally, health workers can use an educational series to train others on using digital health portals.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso developed a way to 3D-print a battery component into nearly any shape. Tuesday, UTEP said the team’s innovation could change how devices are powered.

The researcher’s study focused on gel polymer electrolytes, which is the material inside a battery used to carry the electrical charge. UTEP said electrolytes are liquids that usually have to be sealed inside casings.

UTEP said the usual design limits battery shapes and raises worries about safety and leaks.

As an alternative, UTEP researchers created a printable gel by combining resin with a lithium-based liquid electrolyte and hardening it layer by layer.

UTEP said the printed material worked on par with electrolytes made with the usual methods.

“For years, the shape of a battery has dictated the shape of the device it powers,” said Alexis Maurel, the study’s lead researcher. “We are showing that you can print a high-performing electrolyte battery component with any shape and place it almost anywhere you want.”

Researchers printed discs, an open honeycomb lattice and a solid cube — showing how future batteries can be shaped to fit a device instead of forcing a device to accommodate batteries.

As for stability, researchers said one of their formulations was especially stable during repeated testing.

UTEP said the research team plans to refine its work and incorporate their printed electrolytes into complete battery cells.

The team’s work has been published in Communications Engineering, part of the Nature family of journals.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A federal jury convicted a former soldier in El Paso for stealing more than 200 pallets of Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) from Fort Bliss, the Justice Department said Tuesday. The meals’ value totaled $1,120,000, according to the DOJ.

The Justice Department said 47-year-old Joseph Lavar Davis and three other people faced a two-count indictment in February 2025 for the scheme. They faced one count for conspiracy to steal government property and a substantive count of stealing government property between February and August 2020.

The DOJ said the scheme involved:

Davis, former soldier who became a civilian contractor. He knew how to request and pick up MREs.

A soldier who helped pick up and transport the meals.

A middleman between the buyer and the contractor and soldier.

A civilian who sold the MREs online.

While in the Army, Davis worked in food service supply where he learned how to get MREs, according to the Justice Department. After he retired, he worked as a civilian contractor, where he stole MREs from Fort Bliss, officials said.

In August 2020, the FBI and Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division agents searched a warehouse in El Paso and found 100 MRE pallets, the DOJ said. It said investigators found out the owner of the company using the warehouse bought the meals from people who stole them from Fort Bliss.

According to the DOJ, Davis made fake requests and rented trucks to transport the MREs. He also picked up or planned for others to pick up the meals from Fort Bliss. The Justice Department said investigators learned about Davis’ actions through fake paperwork.

The DOJ said he also planned with other people to obtain, deliver and receive money for the meals. He also negotiated prices and received payment for MREs, according to officials.

Click here to follow the original article.

Paul Schulz

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso Fire Crews have knocked down a large fire in Central El Paso.

The El Paso Fire Department has confirmed to ABC-7 that two buildings were affected by the condition 4 fire.

The fire happened on the intersection of Yandell Drive and Octavia Street.

EPFD says the call came in at around 9:38 p.m. on Monday evening. 25 units responded to the fire, with about 60 firefighters tackling the blaze. The fire was put out 41 minutes later at 10:19 p.m.

Officials say both structures affected by the fire each had a partial roof collapse.

No injuries have been reported at this time and fire investigators are currently on the scene.

EPFD says residents from one structure have been displaced and Red Cross was requested for aid.

This is still a developing story, ABC-7 will continue to keep you updated on air and online.

Click here to follow the original article.